harness



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G; B. HARNESS. ELEGTRIGAL'APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES. No. 453,476. Patented June 2, 1891.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

4 O. B. HARNESS. ELEGTRIGAL APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES.

No. 453,476. Patented June 2,1891.

5 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

G. B. HARNESS. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SURGIOAL PURPOSES. No. 453,476. Patented June 2,1891} (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

O. B. HARNESS. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES.

No. 453,476. Patented June 2,1891.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

' (No Model.)

O. B. HARNESS. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES.

No. 453,476. Patented June 2, 1891-.

UN T D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS BENNETT HARNESS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,476, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed January 26, 1891. Serial No. 379,059. (No model.)

- T0 aZZ whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, OonNELIUs BENNETT HARNEss, medical electrician, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Lon don, England, have invented certain new and useful improvements relating to the treatment of patients preparatory to and during surgical and dental operations and to appa ratus therefor, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

' My invention relates to the treatment of patients preparatory to and during surgical and dental operations for the purpose of deadening the pain or rendering the patients lnsensible to the pain caused by such operations. For this purpose I proceed as follows, viz: I subject the patient for a suitable length of time previous to the performance of the operation to the action of an electric current, which is caused to pass through the body of the patient in any convenient manner. As soon as the desired effect is produced-that is to say, as soon as the patient has become somewhat accustomed to the action of the current-l shunt the current from one of the electrodes, whereby it is passed through the body of the patient, and cause the said current to pass through the bistoury, forceps, or other surgical or dental instrument, and thence through the body of the patient; or I change the path of the current in such a manner as to put both of the said electrodes in connection with the positivepole and the instrument in connection .with the negative pole of an induction-coil or magneto-electric machine.

My said invention, moreover, comprises improved apparatus whereby I am enabled toapply the electric current in a more convenient and advantageous manner and with greater comfort to the patient than heretofore.

My said apparatus comprises a chair, couch, table, or similar support upon which the patient can sit, lie, or rest in any convenient position during the operation, and beneath the, seat or upper portion of which are arranged (preferably in a suitable box or case) an electric battery and an induction-coil or a magneto-electric machine. The said chair,

couch, or similar support is, moreover, provided with electrodes which are connected with the said induction-coil or with the conductors of the magneto-electric machine and are so arranged that they can be conveniently grasped by the hands of the patient or applied to other parts of his body. The said apparatus also comprises a conductoradapted to be connected with a bistoury, forceps, or other surgical or dental instrument. A suitable commutator is provided, which the operator can control with his foot or otherwise, and whereby one of the said electrodes may be electrically disconnected from the negative pole and connected with the positive pole of the said induction-coil or magneto-electric machine, and connection may be simultaneously established between the said inductioncoil or magneto-electric machine and the conductor connected with the instrument to be used in performing the operation. Byiuclosing the battery and induction-coil or the magneto-electric machine in a box or case beneath the upper portion of the chair, couch, or similar support I am enabled to conceal them from the patients view, and I can make the chair, couch, or other support substantially similar in appearance to chairs, couches, or the like ordinarily used for similar purposes. Moreover, I the electrical apparatus can be very readily moved with the chair, couch, or the like in order to change the position of the patient for the purpose of obtaining better light or for any other purpose; and the treadle for working the commutator can be so arranged that it can be controlled by the operator while'standing in the position most favorable for operating upon the patient.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of the left-hand side of one form of my improved apparatus, the side of the box or case being removed to show the battery'and other parts. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right-hand side of the said apparatus, the side of the said box or case and the head-rest hereinafter mentioned being removed. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the said apparatus. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 00 00, Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and G are diagrams illustrating the mode of connecting the parts and showing in two different positions the commutator hereinafter described. Figs. 7 to 12 illustrate various forms of electrodes for use with my apparatus. Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

A is the chair.

B is the vessel or receptacle of the battery, designed to receive the exciting-liquid, the carbons C, and the zinc D.

The battery shown in the drawings is intended to be set in action by means of potassium bichromate. I may, however, employ any other suitable battery.

The zinc D is suspended from a lever E,

which is pivoted to a bracket E, attached to its core of soft iron.

the seat of the chair, which forms the top of the box or case for inclosing the battery and other parts. The said lever E is designed to move or adjust the zinc so as to immerse it more or less in the liquid or to withdraw it therefrom. The said lever is actuated by means of a handle F, which by its rotary movement turns a toothed pinion F, geared with a rack G, which is fitted to slide up and down in the back of the chair and is coupled at its lower end to the said lever. This rack in turn communicates its motion to the said lever E, so that the operator has only to turn the handle F in one or the other direction in order to set the battery in or put it out of action.

H is the induction-coil, which is mounted upon trunnions II, about which it can turn, so as to incline toward the front or rear to permit the required movements of the insu lating-tube J by the lever K. This lever serves to move the insulating'tube J out of and into the coil, so as to uncover and cover The said lever K is pivoted to a bracket K, attached to the seat of the chair, and is actuated by means of a handle L, a pinion L, and a rack M, coupled to the said lever substantially as above described with respect to the lever for raising and lowering the zinc of the battery. The said battery is connected in the usual manner with the primary of the induction-coil, and is constructed with a trembler, contact-piece, and terminals in the usual or other suitable manner. I may employ different kinds of induction-coils, as may be desired; or I can use in place of the battery and induction-coil a suitable magneto-electric machine operated by a treadle or otherwise.

The commutator comprises a cylinder N, made of a non-conductor of electricity. At the extremities of this cylinder are metallic journals, which are held in brackets P. These journals are in contact with plates at a, secured upon the said cylinder, which plates conduct the currents to suitable terminals, hereinafter referred to. The said journals are also in contact with the metallic brackets P, each of which is connected to one of the wires from the poles of the induction-coil, as at P P Figs. 5 and 6. On one of the said journals of the commutator is fixed a treadle-lever Q, whereby the operator may turn the commutator with his foot. On the other journal is fixed a lever R, which extends in the reverse direction to the lever Q, and which is provided with a weight R or with a suitable spring, which automatically effects the return move- Referring to the diagrams shown in Figs. 7

5 and 6, the terminal V is at all times in contact with the corresponding plate a. Assuming that the wire P is connected with the positive pole and the wire F with the negative pole of the induction-coil, then in the position occupied by the commutator, as shown in Fig. 5, the contact-plates a a are connected through the terminals V V and wires U U with the electrodes T '1", so as to produce at each of the said electrodes T T a different pole. Neither of the terminals V V is at this time in contact with the corresponding plate a.

\Vhen the patient sits down in the chair, he grasps the electrodes T T, one in each hand. The operator then turns the knob or handle F, and thus lowers the zinc D into the exciting-liquid of the battery. He also turns the knob or handle L, and thus raises the insulating-tube J more or less out of the inductioncoil H. The patient is thus subjected to the action of the electric current. \Vhen, in the opinion of the operator, this action has been maintained for a sufiicient length of time, the operator, by pressing his foot upon the treadlelever Q, imparts to the cylinder N of the commutator a rotary movement through the required angle to bring the plates at a into the position shown in Fig. 6, so that the positive pole is connected through the terminals V V with the electrodes T T, respectively, while the negative pole is disconnected from the electrode T by the corresponding plate a being moved away from the terminal V and is put in connection with the wire U through the terminal V and the current is thus caused to pass through theinstrument X. It is at this moment that the conditions are favorable for the operation, the patient not experiencing anything but the well-known sensation caused by the induction-current. At the upper part of the back of the chair is a head-rest Y, adapted to move about a balland-socket joint, the clamp or socket of which is tightened by means of the handle Y. The wires extending to the electrodes and to the surgical or dental instrument are passed through suitable channels formed for this purpose in the wooden parts of the chair. The wire U for the forceps or other instrument passes through the upright of the back of the chair and is connected to a terminal at the top of the chair, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In order not to needlessly complicate the drawings, I have not shown in all the figures the wires which lead from the battery to the coil, from the coil to the commutator, and from thecommutator to the electrodes or to the surgical or dental instrument.

The electrodes, instead of being made in the form of handles, as showu,may be of any other suitable form. Moreover, they may be applied to any convenient parts of the body of the patient. 7

In Fig. 7 I have shown a pair of electrodes designed to be applied to the back of the patient and in Fig. 8 a pair which maybe conveniently applied to the abdomen. The pair of electrodes shown in Fig. 9 is intended for the feet. Those shown in Figs. 10 and 12 are applicable to various parts of the body. The pair shown in Fig. 11 is intended to be secured around the arms or legs of the patient. The said electrodes may be conveniently and advantageously formed of wire,woven or otherwise, worked into any suitable fabric, or they may be otherwise made.

It is evident that my improvements above described are also applicable to couches, tables, or other suitable supports for patients undergoing surgical or dental operations.

It is evident that should the preparatory treatment of the patient in any case be deemed unnecessary the electrodes may be permanently connected with the positive pole and the instrument with the negative pole of the induction-coil or magneto-electric machine.

What I claim is- 1. The herein-described method of provid of the current so that it will pass through the patients body between one or both of the said parts and the part operated upon, for the purpose above specified.

2. The combination, with a chair or analogous support provided with electrodes T T of an electric generator connected with the chair or support, conductors U U- U*, electrically connected with the electrodes and with the poles of the electric generator, a surgical or dental instrument X, adapted to be moved at will and. applied by the operator to the patient', a conductor U attached to the dental or surgical instrument and electrically connected with the generator, and means for causing the current to flow through the electrodes alone and subsequently through the surgical or dental instrument, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a chair or analogous support provided with electrodes T T, of an oscillating induction-coil H, supported by the base portion of the chair or support and having a movable core J, lever mechanism for moving the core, the conductors U U U electrically connected with the electrodes and with the poles of the induction-coil, the instrument X, adapted to be moved at will and applied by the operator to the patient, and the conductor U attached to the instrument and electrically connected with the induction-coil, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a chair or analogous support provided with the electrodes T T, of the battery-receptacle B, supported by the base portion of the chair or support and containing the carbon C and zinc D, lever mechanism sustaining the zinc and serving to adjust the same in the battery-receptacle, the oscillating induction-coil H, having a movable core I and-supported by the base portion of the chair or support lever mechanism for adjusting the core, the conductors U U U attached to the electrodes and electrically connected with the induction-coil, the instrument X, adapted to be applied by the operator to the patient, and a conductor U attached to the instrument and electrically connected with the induction-coil, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a chair or other analogous support provided with electrodes T T and an electric generator, of a commuta'tor supported by the base portion of the chair or support and comprising a non-conducting rotating cylinder, contact-plates and terminals, conductors electrically connected with the terminals and with the electrodes on the chair or support, a surgical or dental instrument X, adapted to be moved at will and applied by the operator to the patient, a conductor electrically connected with the instrument and with a terminal of the commutator, and means wherebythe rotation of the cylinder serves to cause the current to flow through the electrodes alone and subsequently through the surgical or dental instrument, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a chair or similar support for the patient and an electric generator, of electrodes T T, conductors U U U a surgical or dental instrument X, adapted to be moved at will and applied by the .operator to the patient, a conductor U connected with the instrument, the commutator comprising a non-conducting rotating cylinder and contact-plates a, and means whereby the rotation of the cylinder serves to cause the current to How through the electrodes alone and subsequently through the surgical or dental instrument, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CORNELIUS BENNETT HARNESS. Witnesses:

JOSEPH LAKE, ALBERT E. NIXON.

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